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A pale pier runs from the sandy shore into the lake, with mountains stretching beyond the water.
Chok-Tal: autumn

Chok-Tal

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Quiet Issyk-Kul north-shore village between Balykchy and Cholpon-Ata, near beaches, petroglyphs and gorges.

  • ≈4 h from BishkekOn the Cholpon-Ata marshrutka
  • Walk the streetsBeyond: marshrutka or taxi
  • 9 places nearbyTamchy, Cholpon-Ata, gorges
  • 16 places to stay12 within 1.5 km of the centre
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

9 places from the centre outwards

Start with places you can walk to, then roads out of town. The map shows the route from the centre to the place you are viewing.

  1. Green treetops and Tamchy roofs against mountains with pale snowy peaks.September 15, 2007

    ≈7.4 km along the road1 / 9

    Tamchy

    By car west along the highway, about 7 kmAll year round; beach in summer

    A neighbouring village with guesthouses and access to the lake. Issyk-Kul airport is nearby, with flights in summer.

    Place page →

  2. A spring view of Balykchy from above: residential areas, roads and dry mountains beyond the town.April 27, 2023

    ≈50 km along the road2 / 9

    Balykchy

    By car west along the highway, about 50 kmWeather permitting

    A town on the lake’s western edge. Roads from Bishkek, to both shores and towards Naryn meet here; there is a railway station.

    Place page →

  3. A beach beside a blue lake, buildings on the shore and a mountain range in the distance.July 6, 2017

    ≈30 km along the road3 / 9

    Cholpon-Ata

    By car east along the highway, about 30 kmWeather permitting

    The main town of the north shore: beaches, museums and a promenade. From here people go to the northern gorges and Karakol.

    Place page →

  4. Close-up of a horned animal carved on the rough grey stone surface.July 16, 2015

    ≈30 km along the road4 / 9

    Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs

    By car or taxi east along the highway, about 30 kmDaytime, best in dry weather

    An open-air museum above the highway. Animals, hunters and hunting scenes are carved into large boulders.

    Place page →

  5. A stone sculpture of a man on a lawn, with a white chapel and trees behind it.

    ≈32 km along the road5 / 9

    Ruh Ordo cultural centre

    By car or taxi east along the highway, about 32 kmWeather permitting

    A lakeside cultural complex named after Chingiz Aitmatov: chapels, sculptures and viewpoints.

    Place page →

  6. Gulls over dark water by a wooden pier, with a sandy shore with shade canopies and a mountain range in the distanceOctober 15, 2019

    ≈32 km along the road6 / 9

    Cholpon-Ata beaches

    By car east along the highway, about 32 kmJune–September

    The town’s sandy shore with piers. Some stretches are reached through resort grounds, so pick your spot in advance.

    Place page →

  7. The lake water reaches a sandy beach, with a Ferris wheel visible on the shore in the distance.June 14, 2022

    ≈39 km along the road7 / 9

    Bosteri

    By car east along the highway, about 39 kmJune–September

    A resort village beyond Cholpon-Ata: holiday resorts, beaches and a Ferris wheel on the shore.

    Place page →

  8. ≈71 km along the road8 / 9

    Grigoriev Gorge

    By car, last stretch on dirt road, about 71 kmWeather permitting

    The Chon-Ak-Suu river valley above Grigorevka: spruce-covered slopes and a walk along a mountain river.

  9. A stony road curves beside a mountain stream among spruce trees and green slopes.August 19, 2021

    ≈83 km along the road9 / 9

    Semenov Gorge

    By car via Semenovka, about 83 kmWeather permitting

    The Kichi-Ak-Suu river gorge with conifer-covered slopes. Walk by the river or drive on to Kyrchyn.

    Place page →

Map

Chok-Tal: four seasons

Things to do in and around town throughout the year. Monthly temperatures are averages for 2016–2025, not a forecast.

  1. Spring

    March–May

    April and May warm up: +12…+16 °C by day. The shore is empty; the beach season hasn’t started yet.

    • MarchChok-Tal +7° / +3°
    • AprilChok-Tal +12° / +7°
    • MayChok-Tal +16° / +10°

  2. Summer

    June–August

    June to August: +19…+22 °C by day, +14…+17 °C at night. Peak time for beaches and lakeside resorts.

    • JuneChok-Tal +19° / +14°
    • JulyChok-Tal +22° / +17°
    • AugustChok-Tal +20° / +16°
  3. September 1, 2024

    Autumn

    September–November

    September is warm, about +17 °C by day; October +11 °C. Beaches are spacious, and the mountains show across the water.

    • SeptemberChok-Tal +17° / +13°
    • OctoberChok-Tal +12° / +8°
    • NovemberChok-Tal +7° / +3°

  4. Winter

    December–February

    +2 to +4 °C by day, about 0 °C at night. Resorts are closed or rarely open; the shore road stays open.

    • DecemberChok-Tal +4° / 0°
    • JanuaryChok-Tal +2° / −1°
    • FebruaryChok-Tal +3° / −1°

Where it is

Location
Issyk-Kul Region
Coordinates
42.59° N, 76.74° E
Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

  • From Bishkek

    ≈4 h to Cholpon-Ata

    Marshrutka from the new bus station along the north shore, 500–600 som, no timetable. Ask the driver to stop at the village.

  • From Cholpon-Ata

    ≈30 km

    West along the north shore, about 30 km by road. Check the departure point, time and fare for your date.

Contact and help

112 single emergency number

  • 101 fire and rescue
  • 102 police
  • 103 ambulance

You can call 112 with a local SIM or without one.

Check in advance

  • Transport timetable
  • Accommodation prices and card acceptance
  • Shore access conditions
  • Mobile network coverage

Check on site

  • Departure, journey time and fare Driver or dispatcher
  • Accommodation price and payment method Your chosen accommodation

Where to stay: 12 of 16 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

1 km1.5 km centre
guesthousehostelhotelother© OpenStreetMap

How many places

16 on the map

14 guesthouses1 hotel1 other

Within 1.5 km from the centre
12 of 16

Options with names, from the centre outwards

  1. Turmalinguesthouse
  2. Bai-Konok
  3. Solnyshko Guesthouseguesthouse
  4. Solnechny Guesthouseguesthouse
  5. Uchkun Guesthouseguesthouse
  6. Vityaz Guesthouseguesthouse
  7. Chok-Talhotel
  8. Kooperator Guesthouseguesthouse

Chok-Tal in photos

Real photos, each with the date it was taken. Tap or click to enlarge.

  1. April 27, 2023
  2. July 16, 2015
  3. July 6, 2017
  4. August 19, 2021
  5. June 14, 2022
  6. June 20, 2026
  8. September 1, 2024
  9. September 1, 2024
  10. September 1, 2024
  11. September 15, 2007
  12. October 15, 2019
  13. September 1, 2024

Guides and ready-made itineraries

Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.

Routes and programmes

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